as in pushing
to force one's way
the sort of greedy person who is always the first to elbow to the front of the buffet table at every party
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of elbowing
That’s what happens with Netflix’s saucy eight-part adaptation of Julia May Jonas’ spicy novel, a sly one that’s intent on elbowing academia in a humorous way.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
The show follows Wiig’s wannabe patrician Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons, who is hell-bent on becoming the belle of 1960’s Palm Beach by elbowing her way into the upper echelons of Florida’s most exclusive beach club, the Palm Royale.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Crinon had just exited the penalty box after elbowing Nathan MacKinnon in the chin; Wilson target-locked on Crinon and hit him cleanly before things devolved.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Georgia’s 15-point loss last month in Gainesville was nip and tuck until 6-foot-11, 260-pound sophomore Somoto Cyril’s ejection for elbowing the face of Florida center Rueben Chinyelu with the Gators leading 21-19.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The Lakers’ Drew Timme sustained an injury to his right eye when Dosunmu was whistled for an offensive foul after elbowing him in the face early in the second quarter.
—Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Jones abused the boys on their bus rides for about six months, between September 2023 and March 2024, before authorities discovered surveillance video that showed the woman elbowing, stomping and punching the students.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
The Athletic reported that footage appeared to show a Trearddur Bay player elbowing a Porthmadog FC player in the head during a break in play.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
But Mackay doesn’t envision El Gaucho elbowing its way into the city.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
The show follows Wiig’s wannabe patrician Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons, who is hell-bent on becoming the belle of 1960’s Palm Beach by elbowing her way into the upper echelons of Florida’s most exclusive beach club, the Palm Royale.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Crinon had just exited the penalty box after elbowing Nathan MacKinnon in the chin; Wilson target-locked on Crinon and hit him cleanly before things devolved.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Georgia’s 15-point loss last month in Gainesville was nip and tuck until 6-foot-11, 260-pound sophomore Somoto Cyril’s ejection for elbowing the face of Florida center Rueben Chinyelu with the Gators leading 21-19.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The Lakers’ Drew Timme sustained an injury to his right eye when Dosunmu was whistled for an offensive foul after elbowing him in the face early in the second quarter.
—Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Jones abused the boys on their bus rides for about six months, between September 2023 and March 2024, before authorities discovered surveillance video that showed the woman elbowing, stomping and punching the students.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
The Athletic reported that footage appeared to show a Trearddur Bay player elbowing a Porthmadog FC player in the head during a break in play.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
But Mackay doesn’t envision El Gaucho elbowing its way into the city.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elbowing
Verb
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The San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento will see temperatures pushing toward 90 by midweek.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
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Tensions in the Middle East are pushing the United Kingdom to consider new military technology to protect global energy supplies.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lady beetles emerging in spring actually entered your home in the fall, squeezing through small cracks to overwinter inside walls, attics, and other sheltered spaces.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
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Equipped with a deep high-rise waistband featuring internal power mesh, Icebreaker has engineered these leggings to provide a bit of extra compression without over-squeezing.—
Harry Spampinato,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elbowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elbowing. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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